My name is Thanh Vo. “Vista” is my nickname on the ARC where I participate. I kept freshwater tanks since I was a kid. I still have my freshwater tank at my parent’s house that I setup 15 years ago. I began keeping reef systems in May 2008 with little of knowledge of how to keep marine fish and corals.

To create a cool environment work place, my company bought the 120 gallons acrylic tank in 2007. Company hired people to take care of everything (setup, buy corals & fished, and to do bi-weekly maintenance). Everyone in office picked their own fish. Wow. Unbelievable. It was pretty tank. Since then I was very interested in saltwater. I began researching & learning. After a year later, I gained little of knowledge about saltwater tank (hardware & software), I decided to look for a tank that fitted in the available space I had in the house. I did not know many LFS at that time. One day my co-worker said “Hey Thanh, there is a LFS not far from here. You should check it out.” I took my lunch break to stop by that store (The Fish Store & More) on Roswell Road. I decided to buy the whole tank package (70gal Oceanic tank, stand, and canopy), skimmer, sump and lighting on that day.

I was tired of looking at fresh fish water tank. The beauty of the corals and colorful fishes that made me wants to setup a tank that looked different and more beautiful than the freshwater tank.

How do you feel about your tank being picked for ToTM?

What an honor! I have received a private message from one of ARC’s moderators informing me that my tank has been chosen for Tank of the Month. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the people involved in the decision-making process and ARC. This is a great honor. I sincerely appreciate it.

I have upgraded new equipments since I bought this tank. I loved to keep many fishes (15 of them) and fed them a lot and ended up I battled with P04 & NO3. Upgrading new Reef Recalculating Protein Skimmer & Refugium helps to keep water clean and reduce NO3. I use 2 TLF reactors to run carbon & GFO all the time.

I tried 250W, it was not enough light. I turned to next level (HQI), the color was bright white and I don't think there was enough light neither.
I tried 400W is too much light for my tank so I turned down one level. It looks much better and corals love it.

Maintenance
Daily: feed fish and clean viewing panes several times a week
Weekly: clean skimmer, 5% - 10% water change except in the winter, clean out powerheads and overflows and check the plumping.
Monthly: check water parameters and change carbon and Phosphate GFO

Final Thoughts (don't have to answer all, just suggestions)
What is your key to success or what have you learned?

Patience, Patience, and Patience.

What are your future plans for the tank?

Take more live rocks out to create more space for corals grow out and fishes swimming

What is the worst and best thing you have ever bought/added/done to your tank?

The worst thing I have ever added was Mystery wrasse. She ate my cleaning shrimp & Harlequin shrimp
The best thing I have done to my tank:

Upgrade Refugium: I'd like to re-aquascape and take more live rocks out, so I need a bigger Refugium. I contact Atlanta Reef to custom built one based on my specs and style. It also help to reduce NO3.
Upgrade Canopy to support new lighting: this is third time that I changed different lighting: starting with Aqualight Pro fixture and then change Tek T5 fixture. Now I am using LumenMax Elite Mogul, Sun System Galaxy 250-HQI-400w Select-A-Watt Electronic Ballast, 1 400W SE Radium bulbs, and 4 PowerBrite 4-460nm Actinic LED's. I contacted Dustin to custom built that matched my current stand. I also installed two Ice Cap 120mm Fans. I really love it. I have not seen Teco Chiller to run yet.

Describe any disasters you have had

I re-aquascaped the live rock and disturbed the sand bed and I paid the price. Moving the rock around might have triggered that toxic release and a result stress on the SPS. I lost some of beautiful SPS.

Advice for beginners/Words of wisdom

Patience and try to read about stuff before you attempt it. ARC is great website to get help, support and advice

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank my wife for supporting my hobby.
My special thanks to Chris (Mojo) for the outstanding photos of my tank. Without him, my tank would not have been Tank of the Month, for sure.
Tim at Keen Reef and Allan (Atlanta Reef) provided the excellent customer service
Dave (Acroholic) , Lee (glxtrix) and Matt (MvM) provided the excellent knowledgeable advice
All the ARC members who have answered all those questions, provided frags and continue to make this club such an enjoyable success.
Last, but not least, happy reefing to you all.